Cancer Protective Diet

What’s the Point of Healthy Eating After a Cancer Diagnosis?

By Ann Ogden Gaffney
Founder, Cook for Your Life

In my line of work, I often meet people who before their cancer diagnosis did everything right. They ate a plant-based or vegan diet, they juiced, they stopped smoking, they cut back on their drinking and yet still they ended up in the chemo suite. The ultimate betrayal. It’s tempting under these circumstances to say ‘What the hell!’ and throw...

I was a card-carrying vegetarian for over a dozen years before my first cancer diagnosis. I’ve been there. I know how getting this news feels. I’m here to tell you that you’ve nothing to blame yourself for, nor to congratulate yourself for either. There is no culinary silver bullet to stop cancer in its tracks. However you ate, you did nothing wrong. Life is just life, and it can be hard to accept the reality that no matter how much we try to control what happens to us, there is no controlling it, we have to let go.

So if it doesn’t work, what’s the point in eating healthily after a cancer diagnosis? It depends on what you mean by ‘doesn’t work’. At the end of the day, a healthy, plant-based flexitarian diet may not prevent cancer but it can certainly reduce the risk for many of the common ones, and also of heart disease, diabetes and many other nasty diseases which you don’t want. Not to mention the fact that healthy food makes your body feel better – unhealthy foods tend to be high in sugar and fat, which can cause your energy to fluctuate, and leave you feeling sluggish. Simply put, healthy eating improves overall health and helps to keep us strong during treatment and in survivorship, so don’t give up. Bear in mind that at Cook for Your Life our mantra for healthy eating is not about dull food and deprivation, it is about eating well, eating wisely and above all eating for enjoyment. The recipes we’ve chosen will show you what healthy eating looks like, and how delicious and how easy it can be. Enjoy!

Al Pastor Shrimp Tacos Recipe Image

Al Pastor Shrimp Tacos

Rated 4 out of 5
10 min prep
Roasted Tomato & Olive Pearl Couscous Recipe Image

Roasted Tomato & Olive Pearl Couscous

Rated 5 out of 5
30 min prep
Chicken & Turkey Meatballs Recipe Image

Chicken & Turkey Meatballs

Rated 4 out of 5
20 min prep
Squash Coconut Curry Noodles Recipe Image

Squash Coconut Curry Noodles

Rated 4 out of 5
30 min prep
Spaghetti Squash au Gratin Recipe Image

Spaghetti Squash au Gratin

Rated 4 out of 5
20 min prep
Lemon-Soy Baked Fish Recipe Image

Lemon-Soy Baked Fish

Rated 3.8 out of 5
20 min prep
Potato & Spinach Curry Recipe Image

Potato & Spinach Curry

Rated 5 out of 5
20 min prep
Tangy Braised Kale With Tomato Recipe Image

Tangy Braised Kale With Tomato

Rated 5 out of 5
15 min prep
Pomegranate-Glazed Chicken Recipe Image

Pomegranate-Glazed Chicken

Rated 4 out of 5
30 min prep
Thai-Style Mussels With Rice Noodles Recipe Image

Thai-Style Mussels With Rice Noodles

Rated 5 out of 5
20 min prep
Sweet Potato & Kale Farinata Recipe Image

Sweet Potato & Kale Farinata

Rated 4 out of 5
20 min prep
Pea Puree Recipe Image

Pea Puree

Rated 5 out of 5
15 min prep
Stuffed Mushrooms Recipe Image

Stuffed Mushrooms

Rated 5 out of 5
20 min prep
Summer Vegetable Soup With Basil Pesto Recipe Image

Summer Vegetable Soup With Basil Pesto

Rated 5 out of 5
35 min prep
Eggplant Parmigiana Sliders Recipe Image

Eggplant Parmigiana Sliders

Rated 4 out of 5
25 min prep
Kale & Mushroom Breakfast Sandwich Recipe Image

Kale & Mushroom Breakfast Sandwich

Rated 4 out of 5
15 min prep
Asparagus & Ricotta Tart Recipe Image

Asparagus & Ricotta Tart

Rated 5 out of 5
30 min prep
Collard Greens & White Bean Soup Recipe Image

Collard Greens & White Bean Soup

Rated 4 out of 5
20 min prep

Recipe Collections You Might Also Like...

A Low Fat Diet That Doesn’t Have To Be Boring Image
Recipe Collection

A Low Fat Diet That Doesn’t Have To Be Boring

Groovy Grains – Easy Breakfasts to Start your Day Image
Recipe Collection

Groovy Grains – Easy Breakfasts to Start your Day

Weeknight Dinner Hacks for Meals in a Hurry Image
Recipe Collection

Weeknight Dinner Hacks for Meals in a Hurry

All Recipe Collections